What to Expect During Your First Season with Your Dog…featuring Sodak Sami!

A dog’s first hunting season is about much more than filling a game bag – it’s about building confidence, creating positive experiences, and developing the partnership that will last for years to come. This session covers what to realistically expect from a young hunting dog, common challenges encountered during the first season, and practical tips to help both dog and handler enjoy a successful start. Whether you’re preparing for your first hunt or looking to make the most of a young dog’s introduction to the field, participants will leave with realistic expectations and valuable tools for future success.

About our speaker:
Sami Jo Strutz is a professional dog trainer, avid hunter, and outdoor educator with a passion for helping people and their dogs succeed in the field. Combining years of dog training experience with a love for hunting, she enjoys teaching handlers how to build confident, reliable hunting partners while fostering an appreciation for the outdoors and the traditions that come with it in both upland and waterfowl hunting. Her current pack consists of Black Labs and an English Setter.

Age: All ages (youth with adult)